Meet the Band

    The MYG was formed in 2003 when psychologist/guitarist Dr. Marc Ybaben had the vision of playing in a professional jazz combo that focused on “something different” while providing audiences with high-quality, creative, and exciting jazz.  A few phone calls later, and Marc had found three fellow musicians who shared the vision and who were eager to embark on a new musical journey together.

     “Jazz bands run a similar risk as do symphony orchestras,” Marc stated in a recent interview.  “That is, if they play just ‘the same old stuff’ that audiences know, the music gets dull and the audience eventually gets bored.  There needs to be a mix of old and new, classic and cutting edge, to keep both the musicians and audience interested and wanting to hear more.”  This unique philosophy sets the MYG apart, and brings an excitement to every performance.

      In a typical performance, audiences hear a range of songs from classic composers like Gershwin, Jobim and Miles Davis, all the way to modern greats: Tom Harrell, John Scofield, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and John Moulder.  From the response at performances, the mix works.

    Clients/Venues: The MYG and its members have performed at numerous public and private events throughout the state, including clients/venues such as: The Laguna Playhouse, Seven Degrees Art Gallery, The Lighthouse, The Disneyland Resort, The Richard Nixon Library, The Long Beach Museum of Art, Whittier Law School, United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County, the Pasadena Convention Center, The Art Institute of California -- Orange County, the Hyatt Regency Resort, and the Coachhouse Theatre, where they have opened for the world-renowned artists Chuck Mangione and Larry Carlton!

      The Musicians:

      Rial Gallagher plays saxophones for the Group, and can be heard out in front sharing the melodies with Marc.  Rial studied jazz at the  University of Alabama’s Jazz Studies program, and learned the ropes of being a professional in what he calls the “Southern School of Funk & Groove.”  He toured the Southeast United States performing in several funk and R & B bands, and spent a year working the Caribbean Cruise Ship circuit with a well-known big band.  Rial then took a different turn, and joined the US Air Force for a five-year tour of duty.  “The best thing about that,” Rial reports, “is that the tour brought me to Southern California, and I’ve never left.”  Rial has continued his musical journey through the years by performing with several high-profile bands, and he has recently played with a popular funk band, a Latin jazz band, a Caribbean orchestra, and a 16-piece swing band.  A voracious learner, when Rial’s not gigging, he’s “running down charts” at local colleges, always sharpening his musical skills.  Rial’s musical philosophy is to follow Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie’s advice to, “play clean, and always be looking for the pretty notes.”

      Patrick Morvan grounds the Group with his stellar acoustic bass   playing.  He has studied bass with a member of the LA Philharmonic, and has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music from Cal State University - Los Angeles and Cal State University - Long Beach, respectively.  Pat has over 30 years of experience as a professional musician, and has performed with numerous bands and orchestras during that time.  Recently he has performed with a diverse mix of bands, including several jazz groups, a rhythm and blues band, and a worship group at his favorite church.  Pat is the only member in the Group whose “day job” and “night job” are both music: he is a full time music teacher with the Paramount Unified School District where he teaches band, string orchestra, and choir.  He is an in-demand clinician, and recently presented at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Conference.  In his spare time, Pat teaches bass privately, works in his garden, and hand-builds wooden furniture in his studio.

      David Woods is the Group’s drummer and major source of drive and energy.  Dave’s musical experience began at the old age of seven when he started playing piano, but then switched to drums and percussion during middle school, and he hasn’t looked back since.  He has been performing professionally for years in various musical bands and settings, including show bands, rock bands, big-band jazz orchestras, and smaller jazz combos, and has traveled the West Coast participating in music festivals and concerts.  “The small jazz group is my favorite,” Dave admits, “since it allows me the most freedom and room for creativity.”  A busy family man and professional, Dave enjoys taking time to teach both concert percussion and drum set to eager students.

      Marc Ybaben directs the Group and plays guitar, covering both melodies and accompaniment for the tunes.  He began playing woodwinds in elementary school, but soon made his way to the guitar (“it was much cooler!”).  Marc attended the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific, where he earned degrees in both classical guitar and psychology.  It was there he started learning about jazz and exploring the jazz guitar in combos and the UOP Big Band.  He then moved outside of Chicago and attended Northern Illinois University for graduate studies in psychology, and earned a Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.  Fortunately, it turned out that NIU had a fantastic music program, so Marc was able to continue his jazz studies, and performed often in the Chicago area with several jazz groups.  Marc was a psychologist in the US Air Force for five years, serving in the States and overseas, and returned home to Southern California in 1999.  He now works as a business psychologist, he has a clinical practice in Newport Beach and teaches at a doctoral psychology program.  Marc is busy with his young family, and makes time to teach jazz guitar for fun.